Gift of a Century: Petullo Collection to Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee collector Anthony Petullo has made a gift to the Milwaukee Art Museum of over 200 pieces of self-taught art, making this institution the holder of the largest collection of this type of art in the United States. These wondrous works are in a show entitled "Accidental Genius" and they will be punctuated with lectures, films, and parties through May 6th.
As a guest in Mr. Petullo's home, I can attest to the magnificence of his vision and his collection. He has included in his gift, masters, such as Bill Traylor, Anna Zemanokova and Adolf Wolfli, as well as works, lesser known, but equally worthy of contemplation.
On Thursday, March 22, the Museum will host a discussion concerning what the meaning of and the problems are with the terms Self-taught, Naive and Outsider. Lisa Stone (curator at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago), Jane Kallir (co-director of Galerie St. Etienne, NYC) and Margaret Andrea ( curator of the exhibition) will be the panelists.

image by Carlo Zinelli

Anyone Can Dine With the Queen

Therese James has a zest for life paired with a sense of humor, which is evident in each of her paintings. Her work would be considered Naive, and since 1993 she has given in to a compulsion to paint full time. She records scenes of everyday life with an unbounded joy which makes the viewer feel like jumping in to join the fun. Therese gets much of her inspiration from the places and literature of her native Wales and the West Country.

According to her bio, "Relying purely on an instinctive approach to her art she has developed her own style with representative characters who inhabit the world of her paintings." A simple seashore scene, double decker red busses in traffic, or even a family sharing their Christmas dinner with the Queen (on TV of course), become fodder for a new painting. Her subjects move at angles and dance across the canvas in a dizzying tango. Her work can be seen in galleries throughout the UK and she is represented in the Affordable Art Fairs by Wren Fine Art, and was selected for the prestigious "Artist of the Year" award.

Vernissage for Helga Hornung

Ottobeuren

Ausstellung im Rahmen der Ottobeurer Konzerte

im Haus des Gastes

Helga Hornung & Philipp Reisacher

“Weiter als der Horizont”

Zum Konzertwochenende 60 Jahre Basilikakonzerte

www.ottobeuren.de

Vernissage: Freitag 18. Sept. 2009 19.30 Uhr

Im Dialog mit den Künstlern, Bernd Schäfer (Bürgermeister Ottobeuren)

Musik: Reinhard Reißner (Klassische Gitarre )

19. und 20. Sept. von 10.00 bis 18.00 Uhr

Helga Hornung

Phantasie und Traumwesen die beflügeln und den Betrachter verzaubern.

Bilderbuchreihe “ Derkleine Lalu” www.helga-hornung.de

Philipp Reisacher

steht mitden Füssen auf der Erde, mit dem Herzen hängt ersich in den Himmel

Cornelia Kleybolt, M.A. www.ph-reisacher.de

European Naive works come to the big city......

My pal, naive artist Guido Vedovato of Italy is showing his colorful and very charming works in New York City next month at the Gina Gallery of Naive Art. If you are in the city, don't miss this chance to see the highly talented international artists who will be joining him in this stunning show. A rare chance to see what is being created outside of the hallowed NY art scene. Definitely a highlight of the season!

Frank Bentley, English Outsider Artist

Years ago, I was introduced to the lovely and delicate works of Frank Bentley. Often his point of view was overhead, looking down on romantic little fishing villages and coves filled with small boats and even smaller people. "Fingals Island" was always a favorite. Other paintings of Bentley's were charming pieces equally welcomed in a nursery as a foyer, and "Three Goldfish in a Jam Jar" and "Green Cat with Green Fish" are two that come to mind. So whimsical and appealing. I wish they were mine, so I share them with you.